It’s safe to say the Phillies never could’ve imagined how important Cristopher Sánchez would become for them.
On June 10, 2023, the lanky Sánchez threw six innings against the Syracuse Mets in his 134th career minor-league appearance, his final Triple-A outing before joining the Phillies’ rotation since there was just no other viable option. On Sunday, he’ll face the New York Mets in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park.
After the Phillies lost the opener of this best-of-five playoff set, Sánchez is as important to the Phillies’ success as ever. He’ll start a must-win postseason matchup after two regular seasons of exceeding expectations.
Philadelphia will look to Sánchez to be the stopper. It’ll be tough to match Zack Wheeler’s dominant seven inning, one-hit performance that the Phillies wasted on Saturday, but they’ll likely need another sharp showing from their starter to even the series in this pivotal Game 2.
The team will go with its breakout left-hander with the devastating changeup against a righty-heavy New York lineup. Sánchez appreciates the opportunity from his manager, Rob Thomson.
“It’s just something nice,” Sánchez said through a team interpreter prior to Saturday afternoon’s loss. “It feels really nice to do that. It shows that he trusts me a lot. So I sort of have a chip on my shoulder, but no pressure on that. I feel good with that. I like that he trusts me. And just as always, give the best of myself and do what I have to do: Enjoy the game and just go out and throw the ball.”
The Phillies will send Sánchez to the mound in Game 2 and bump veteran Aaron Nola to Game 3 at New York’s Citi Field. This allows Sánchez to pitch at home, where he had a 2.21 ERA in 17 starts this year, while splitting up the lefties and righties before left-hander Ranger Suárez throws a potential Game 4.
The entire process leading up to his start has been part of a whirlwind last week for Sánchez. In addition to being named the Game 2 starter, the 27-year-old welcomed a new member to his family. Sánchez’s wife, Kaimary, had their first-born child, a baby boy named Cristopher, on Monday, Oct. 1.
“It’s just all been really special,” Sánchez said. “I think there’s nothing that beats getting home to my kid right now. I’m just spending time with him, holding him every five minutes. Just all around, being all over him. That’s just something I can’t describe right now.”
Sánchez took advantage of the first-round bye that the Phillies earned as the No. 2 seed in the NL. The left-hander spent his time going back and forth between his family and the ballpark throughout this week. He spent Monday at the hospital. He threw on Tuesday and played catch on Wednesday, leaving before the Phillies’ intrasquad scrimmage. The schedule allowed him to stay in routine while being there for his wife and son.
“It was the best time possible,” he said. “It all happened in perfect timing. I was able to go to the hospital and meet my kid, my wife, and just spend two days with them at the hospital. All normal to me. The next day I just came here, did my throwing program, had a bullpen session and it’s all been just regular for me luckily.”
He’ll be ready to go out there and make the second postseason start of his career. Last year, Sánchez pitched in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series at Chase Field. He allowed two runs — one earned — in 2 1/3 innings and made a critical mental mistake in the field in a loss to the Diamondbacks.
A lot has happened since that start. Sánchez, an emerging pitcher from an unlikely path last season, had a full-on breakout in 2024. He had a 3.32 ERA in 180 2/3 innings across 31 starts. He made the All-Star team and signed a four-year extension in Philadelphia. He helped the Phillies win the NL East. He became a father.
Sánchez believes he’s come a long way since last October.
“I had the experience of pitching in the playoffs last year,” he said. “But I can’t compare that to this year. I think what we’ve been doing the whole year has helped me be in a better position to be here in the postseason now this year. I’m more mature. It’s more experience.”
Before Saturday, the Phillies had won the first game of every postseason series they played in since Thomson took over as manager in 2022. The club will now need to display a sense of urgency in Game 2 that it hasn’t always needed to tap into. The Mets could clinch the NLDS in Game 3 — their first game in New York of the postseason — on Tuesday if Philadelphia drops Game 2.
Thomson believes Sánchez is equipped to handle the moment after developing into one of the better pitchers in all of the major leagues this season.
“It’s really amazing the steps that he’s taken, the growth that he’s had, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally,” Thomson said Friday. “… Held his composure. Has had some innings where he could have fallen apart, which he’s done in the past, and just kept fighting through it, maintaining his composure and poise. He’s just grown leaps and bounds.”
Although Sunday will be one of the biggest games of Sánchez’s career, he’s trusting what got him there to help him try to limit the red-hot Mets. He’s throwing in a comfortable environment in South Philadelphia, and he’ll have his usual mix of mid-90s mph fastballs, changeups and sliders. He could help save the Phillies’ season if it all comes together.
“I’ll just treat it as another game,” Sánchez said. “I’m really excited. I’ll just go out and be myself out there. Just compete and give the best of myself for my teammates as well.”
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